news

NYMTA: February CRZ Tolling ‘In Line With Projections’; C&D Department Reports $3B Saved in First Five Years

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) on March 24 announced that from Feb. 1 through Feb. 28, tolls from the Congestion Relief Zone (CRZ) generated $51.9 million in revenue with a net after expenses of $40.4 million. This, the agency says, “keeps the program on track to provide the $500 million that was initially projected.” The MTA will continue to report revenues from this program monthly.

(Photograph of Port of Vancouver, Courtesy of CN)

AAR: North American Rail Volume Up Through Week 12

For the first 12 weeks of 2025, ending March 22, North American carload and intermodal traffic was up 2.6% from the same point last year, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported March 26. The United States saw a gain, while Canada and Mexico experienced losses.

CSX Secures Tentative Labor Agreements With BRS, IBB

CSX on March 25 announced that it has secured new five-year tentative collective bargaining agreements with the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS) and the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers (IBB).

Commentary

An Ambassador of Change for Women at PATH

On Patrice Polite’s first day at PATH in 2009, two things stood out. The first was just how nervous she felt when she reported for duty to the car equipment division facility in Harrison. The second was how few women she ran across during Day One – only one other, in fact. That one woman showed her the ropes and helped navigate her new surroundings.

PANYNJ Extends APM Lease Through P3

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (Port Authority) will extend its operating lease agreement with APM Terminals by 33 years, “securing major investments and capacity enhancements” at its second-largest

Hyundai Motor Group will invest $5.8 billion in a new manufacturing facility at RiverPlex MegaPark in Louisiana. Served by UP, it will be the company’s first North American steel facility to support its automotive manufacturing operations across the United States. (Map Courtesy of RiverPlex MegaPark)

Class I Briefs: UP, CN, NS

Hyundai Motor Group selects a Union Pacific (UP)-served site in Louisiana for its $5.8 billion steel manufacturing plant. Also, CN releases a Western Canadian grain report and will serve PlasCred’s planned recycling facility near Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta; and Norfolk Southern’s (NS) management team visits HOPE Atlanta.

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NCCC, IBEW Vote to Ratify National Agreement

The National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC) and members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) have voted to ratify a national collective bargaining agreement. This ratified national agreement is the seventh

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People News: Sound Transit, RCR Rail Co., STV

Dow Constantine is named as Sound Transit’s CEO nominee. Also, RCR Rail Co. welcomes Bruce Mann as Vice President of Operations; and STV expands leadership team in the Carolinas and promotes Sean Pulsifer to National Architectural Discipline Leader.

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‘Young Professionals’ Virtual Conference Set for April 24

Railway Age’s third-annual “Young Professionals” conference—the industry’s only free event tailored to helping fast trackers in the rail freight, passenger, and supply communities advance their careers—will be held virtually on April 24 at 2

(BART)

BART: ‘Getting Our Budget in Order’

San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) on March 24 reported eliminating what was projected to be a $35 million budget deficit for Fiscal Year 2026, starting July 1, 2025. But “structural deficits of $350 million to $400 million loom in the following years,” it said, “unless long-term, stable funding sources can be identified.”

Commentary

The Real Business Case for Rail Growth

It has been about a year since I called for adaptation (growth) and not decline in our industry. And it seems like that growth message was well received. This industry wants to

(Norfolk Southern photo)

Nine NS-Served Industrial Properties Recognized by National REDI Sites Program

Norfolk Southern (NS) recently announced that a new wave of its rail-served industrial development properties has received national recognition for site readiness. Administered by the Site Selectors Guide, the REDI (Readiness Evaluation and Designation Initiative) Sites program “provides a rigorous, standardized evaluation process for site readiness across the U.S.”

A high-speed rail development contract was signed March 21 by Crown corporation Alto (formerly VIA HFR) and the Cadence consortium. The nearly 660-mile line will be dedicated electrified HSR, with trains running up to 186 mph between Toronto and Quebec City, with stops at Peterborough, Ottawa, Montréal, Laval, and Trois-Rivières. (Logos Courtesy of CNW Group/Alto)

Transit Briefs: Alto HSR, Metrolinx, TransLink

Canada’s Alto and the Cadence consortium sign an agreement to develop HSR (high-speed rail) between Toronto and Québec City. Also, the Canadian government advances Metrolinx’s Hazel McCallion LRT extension in Brampton, Ontario; and Vancouver’s TransLink completes upgrades to the Brentwood Town Center SkyTrain Station in Burnaby.

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People News: Intramotev, INRD, HNTB, ENSCO

Rail industry veteran Harry Zander joins Intramotev as Chief Commercial Officer. Also, the Indiana Rail Road Company (INRD) welcomes back Brian Jonaitis as Director, Business & Industrial Development; James de la Loza returns to HNTB as National Practice Consultant – Transit and Senior Vice President; and Todd Cook, Director of ENSCO’s Cyber Domain, receives the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve’s (ESGR) Patriotic Employer Award.

The 627-mile HBRY that connects with CN in The Pas, running north through Manitoba to the Hudson Bay at the Port of Churchill. (Screen Grab from a Prairies Economic Development Canada Video)

For Canada’s HBRY, Port of Churchill, another C$175MM

Transport Canada and Prairies Economic Development Canada on March 21 committed to investing a total of C$175 million over a five-year period to support operations and maintenance of the Hudson Bay Railway (HBR) and pre-development activities at the Port of Churchill.

Pictured, left to right at the home of CPKC’s Hydrogen Locomotive Program in Calgary: James Clements, Executive Vice President Strategic Planning & Corporate Services at CPKC; Calgary Skyview MP George Chahal; Energy Minister Brian Jean; Mayor Jyoti Gondek; Reeve Amber Link; Zak Cunningham, Calgary Region Hydrogen Hub Lead at The Transition Accelerator; and Brad Parry, President and CEO of Calgary Economic. (Calgary Economic Development Ltd. Photograph)
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Calgary Region Hydrogen Hub Opens

Canadian Pacific Kansas City on March 21 hosted Calgary Economic Development Ltd. (CED) as it launched the Calgary Region Hydrogen Hub, which CED said “builds on the region’s strengths as Canada’s energy